People I (Mostly) Admire

127. Rajiv Shah Never Wastes a Crisis

Mar 16, 2024

Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation and former head of USAID, dives into his vast humanitarian experience. He shares gripping tales from the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, stressing the need for data-driven decisions. Shah discusses the importance of embracing mistakes while pursuing ambitious goals. He also reflects on the challenges in public health, highlighting his work on global vaccination strategies at the Gates Foundation. Lastly, he critiques the disparity in nonprofit compensation, advocating for fairer remuneration to enhance philanthropic impact.

57:23

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Rajiv Shah

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Quick takeaways

Taking big gambles is crucial in crisis management and driving impactful change.

Localized solutions and community insights play a vital role in effective emergency responses.

Data-driven decision-making and building strong partnerships are essential for successful crisis management strategies.

Deep dives

Raj Shah's Experience with Crisis and Disaster Management

Raj Shah, the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, previously led USAID during significant global crises such as the Haiti earthquake and the Ebola crisis. His experiences handling these emergencies, including being placed in charge by President Obama during the Haiti earthquake, showcase his ability to manage complex and large-scale humanitarian efforts.

Intro

2min

Navigating Humanitarian Crisis: Lessons from Haiti

18min

Embracing Mistakes on the Path to Extraordinary Goals

5min

Navigating Public Health Innovations

8min

Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons from Ebola to COVID-19

10min

Exploring the Compensation Disparity in Philanthropy

4min

Navigating Nonprofit Realities

14min

A Glimpse into Future Insights and Career Opportunities

3min

After Haiti’s devastating earthquake, Rajiv Shah headed the largest humanitarian effort in U.S. history. As chief economist of the Gates Foundation he tried to immunize almost a billion children. He tells Steve why it’s important to take big gambles, follow the data, and own up to your mistakes.

SOURCE:
- Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation.

RESOURCES:
- Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens, by Rajiv Shah (2023).
- "The Root of Haiti’s Misery: Reparations to Enslavers," by Catherine Porter, Constant Méheut, Matt Apuzzo, and Selam Gebrekidan (The New York Times, 2022).
- "Testing Is Our Way Out," by Paul Romer and Rajiv Shah (The Wall Street Journal, 2020).
- "How to Get Millions of People to Take Coronavirus Tests and Stay Home if They're Positive," by Steven Levitt, Paul Romer, and Jeff Severts (USA Today, 2020).
- "Haiti In Ruins: A Look Back At The 2010 Earthquake," by The Picture Show (2020).
- "Vaccine for a Global Childhood Illness Passes Last Big Hurdle," (The New York Times, 1997).

EXTRAS:
- "Dambisa Moyo Says Foreign Aid Can’t Solve Problems, but Maybe Corporations Can," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).
- "Moncef Slaoui: 'It’s Unfortunate That It Takes a Crisis for This to Happen,'" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2020).

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People I (Mostly) Admire

127. Rajiv Shah Never Wastes a Crisis

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Raj Shah's Experience with Crisis and Disaster Management

Lessons Learned from the Haiti Earthquake Response

Data-Driven Decision-Making in Crisis Response

Developing Partnerships and Building Trust in Crisis Situations

Global Health Challenges, Big Bets, and Future Solutions

Addressing Childcare Crisis and Potential Solutions

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts